Trees are vital to urban areas

• Published date: 23 March 2023
• Publication title: Irish Times: Web Edition Articles (Dublin, Ireland)

If so, is this taken into account when local area plans are drawn up or when planning permission is sought for development? It seems to me that very often trees are low on the list of priorities when it comes to planning decisions. Often approval seems to be given for the removal of all trees, hedges and seed banks. They apparently are seen as having no intrinsic value, regardless of their rarity, longevity or life-supporting properties

Many studies highlight the benefits of planting more trees in urban areas to reduce air and noise pollution and aid well-being. Sadly, we are seeing less, not more, trees and those that are planted will take many years to grow to the size of those they are replacing. Instead of having inter-linking areas of biodiversity, it seems that some new developments are instead creating small islands of communal grassy space.

Trees and hedges...